Method of fireproof-storing mobile fuel



Pram osrice.

LINDON WALLACE BATES, OF MOUNT LEBANON, NEW YORK.

METHOD OF FIREPROOF-S TORIN G MOBILE FUEL.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LINDON V. Barns, a citizen of the United States, residlng at Mount Lebanon, in, the county of Columbia and State of New York, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Methods of F ireproof-Storing Mobile Fuel, of which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to a method of fireproof storing mobile fuel of the variety known -as colloidal fuel, referred to 1n my application filed on or about August 5 191%}, Serial No. 315,497, said application being directed to the fuel and the method of producing the same.

It is well known that heretofore combustible liquids, such as fuel oils usable for fuel purposes have been stored subJect tO C 0I1Sl(l erable danger owing to the inability to quench with water a fire consuming them.

The reason is that the most available and most commonly employed of this category of fuels have a specific gravity lighter than water, which means that they float on the Water and keep burning. The fire departments of cities and the fire underwriters require therefore that such oil fuels bestored under-ground, in limited quantitles, 1n special tanks and at certain distances from neighboring buildings. Such necessary precautionary restrictions have seriously handicapped the introduction of oil fuel into domestic use and industrial plants, especially in those located in cities.

Colloidal fuel as it is commercially known, is an adequately stable composite of liquld hydrocarbon and pulverized carbonaceous substances. In such composites, containing in some cases as little as about 15% by Weight of particles of carbonaceous substances, the specific gravity of the composite 15 greater than Water. The following may be given as examples of such fuel: Colloidal fuel composed of 68%% navy fuelroil from Texas having a specific gravity of 924,307, pulverized bituminous low volatlle coal of specific gravity 1.4, and li% of the fixateur described in the application mentioned gives a liquid product of specific gravity 1.03. Colloidal fuel consisting of 40%% pressure still oil of gravity .960, 3% wax tallings, 15% road oils, 15% fixateur, and 40% pulverized anthracite-coal of specific grav ty 1.8, gives a liquid product of specific grav ty 1.32. A liquid composite of spec fic gravity 1.21 is made with pressure stlll oil, 3%

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Got. 18, 1921.

Application filed August 5, 1919. Serial No. 315,563.

wax tailings, 15% teur and 30% gravity 1.7.

It has been found from experience that the stability character of colloidal fuel is such that during its life, or a period of adequate stability, whose duration and degree are determinable and controllable within reasonable limits, the fuel may be kept under a water seal. than water do not separate during the pe riod to the top of the seal to a noticeable or material extent. The water seal manifests consistently itsoperative character. So also, a fire which is consuming colloidal fuel may be quenched with Water.

Owing to the ability to store colloidal fuel under a water seal andto quench combustion with water, it is not necessary to take the same precautions as are required in the case of an oil fuel lighter than water. As there is less danger of fire in the case of colloidal fuel stored under a water seal than in -the case of liquid combustible not so stored, there need not be the necessity, for

petroleum pitch, 1-}-% fixapressure still coke of specific The components lighter example, of storage under-ground, or in specially constructed containers, or at as great a distance from other buildings. These restrictions and others may be justifiably relaxed to a considerable extent when colloidal fuel is concerned. The ability to store colloidal fuel under a water seal enables a mobile fuel to be introduced into cities without increasing the fire risk to the extent involved in introducing oil fuel.

Having thus stated the nature of my invention, what I claimis:

.carbonaceous substance where the specific gravity of the composite is greater than that of water, which consists in placing such fuel within a container and pouring water thereon whereby the water forms a separate layer on the top surface only of the fuel and thus protects the same from fire and whereby the use of special protective apparatus or measure is rendered unnecessary.

3. That method of storing a stable mobile fuel comprising liquid hydrocarbon and pulverized carbonaceous substance Where the specific gravity of the composite is greater than that of water, which consists in maintaining a water seal above the fuel, whereby the water forms a separate-layer on the top surface only of the mobile fuel and remains so placed during the storage of the fuel, thus protecting it from fire.

4. That method of storing a stable mobile fuel comprising liquid hydrocarbon and pulverized carbonaceous substance Where the specific gravity of the composite is greater than that of Water,which consists in placing such fuel in a container and pouring Water thereon whereby the Water forms a separate layer on the top surface only of the fuel and remains so placed during the storage of the fuel, thus protecting it from fire, and whereby the use of special protective apparatus or measures is rendered unnecessary. In testlmony whereof I have signed my name to this speclficatlon.

LINDON WALLACE BATEs; 

